Hydraulic shifting device



Oct. 19, 1965 J. RORVIK 3,212,407

HYDRAULIC SHIFTING DEVICE Filed Nov. 18, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

Oct. 19, 1965 J. RORVIK HYDRAULIC SHIFTING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 18, 1964 INVENTOR. I ae M @QWA Oct. 19, 1965 J. RORVIK 3,212,407

HYDRAULIC SHIFTING DEVICE Filed Nov. 18, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN V EN TOR. y @QWA United States Patent 3,212,407 HYDRAULIC SHIFTING DEVICE John Rorvik, R0. Box 215, Circle, Mont. Filed Nov. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 412,115 3 Claims. (Cl. 91-347) This invention relates to a hydraulic shifting apparatus, and particularly relates to a fluid-operated shifting device for use with hydraulic jacks as well as for any other use in pumping hydraulic fluids such as oil and the like.

The apparatus of the present invention has as an object thereof to provide a speed-reducing characteristic in such systems as it reduces speed quickly by the size of the hydraulic cylinder and thus eliminates many gears and bearings that are otherwise generally used.

A further object of the present invention is to use the hydraulic fluid pipes of the system as framework for the jack or other hydraulic device, as desired.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a hydraulic two-way cylinder as a load device for the system that may Well be used on dual-well cylinders where there is a large supply of pumpable fluid, and thus a double amount of fluid can be a constant flow from the same well or tank.

These and other objects and advantages reside in the invention and others will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form and embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 shows a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the hydraulic shifting device, in which a hydraulic two-way cylinder is shown in an extended position.

FIGURE 2 shows a corresponding side elevational view as FIGURE 1, in which the hydraulic shifting device is displaced and follows the position of the hydraulic twoway cylinder when in its other position.

FIGURE 3 shows a plane view of the hydraulic shifting device and is a general arrangement of that shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

FIGURE 4 is a generally plane view of a spring plate component taken along lines 44 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a generally vertical or elevational view of a shifting lever lock taken along lines 55 of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a generally schematic hydraulic circuit used in the present invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown a hydraulic shifting device 10 in which a hydraulic storage tank 12 supplies fluid to the hydraulic system 14 (FIGURE 6), and in which a pump 16 drives the fluid to the system, including a two-way valve 18, and a hydraulic two-way cylinder 22. A table or frame 24 supported by legs 26, 26 is used to mount the tank 12, the pump 16, the valve 18, as well as a motor 28 that is used to continuously drive the pump, in a well known manner. The two-way valve 18 has a supply line 30 from the pump 16 and a return line 32 that connects to the tank 12; and a bleeder line 34 is used to additionally supply the pump 16 with fluid that flows from the tank 12 into the system 14.

The hydraulic two-way cylinder 22 may be separately mounted from the frame 24, and where it is used as a jack, it may be secured to a base or ground connection 36, as shown in a cross-sectional manner in FIGURES 1 and 2.

The two-way valve 18 has a valve connecting rod 40, extending from the top of the valve, and it forms a pivotal mounting for a shifting lever 42. The shifting lever 42 forms a component portion of a two-state positioning ar- 3,212,407 Patented Oct. 19, 1965 rangement, including a spring 44, 44 mounted between the shifting lever 42 and a hydraulic power cylinder shaft 46 that is coupled directly to the hydraulic two-way cylinder 22. It is further noted that the hydraulic two-way cylinder is also mounted from and with respect to the two-way valve 18 by brackets 48, 48. The valve has alternate selective output lines 50, 52 that are connected respectively to the upper and lower portion of the hydraulic two-way cylinder 22, so that when one line is being supplied with fluid under force for driving the piston 54 (FIGURE 1) in one direct-ion, the other line respectively of lines 50, 52 receives a return flow of the fluid being displaced by the piston 54 so that it returns to the system 14.

When the valve connecting rod is in either of its end positions, a shifting lever lock 58, shown in detail in FIGURE 5, consisting of a cross bar 60 mounted from a straddling post 62 is provided, which in turn is mounted from the frame of the two-way valve 18. The shifting lever lock is provided with a pair of springs 64, 64. The straddling post 62 is mounted or anchored to the frame of the valve 18 below the shifting lever 42 and a pivot post 68. The springs and the straddling post, as well as the cross bar, cooperate to lock the shifting lever 42 from rocking back and forth when it is desired that the cylinder shaft 46 remain in a given position. In this manner the springs 64, 64 provide the necessary holding or locking action in that they are past the center of movement and retard the displacement of the large springs 44.

A weight equalizer means 70 is mounted vertically at the end of the shifting lever 42 and connects at its other end with the cross bar 60.

A friction bar 74 extends from a mounting or securing means 76 on the valve 18 and is provided with rubber or other elastomeric silencer means 78, 78. A portion of the friction apparatus 80 consists of a pair of bolts 82, 82 on the shifting lever 42, extending through a spring plate 84. Small cylindrical springs 86 are provided on the bolts 82 and are secured thereon with nuts 88 for providing adjustment of the tension thereof. The shifting lever 42 and the spring plate 84 slide up and down respectively on the friction bar 74 as the hydraulic powered cylinder shaft 46 moves to each of its respective positions of rest, so that the large springs 44, 44 are displaced to a point past the center of the pivot post 68. When the spring tension of the springs 44, 44 overcomes the pull and/or the drag of the valve mechanism 18, the valve immediately shifts to its other power stroke and causes the hydraulic two-way cylinder to shift its piston 54 to the other and alternate position.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described fully in order to explain the principles of the invention, it is to be understood that modifications of structure may be made by the exercise of skill in the art Within the scope of the invention which is not to be regarded as limited by the detailed description of the preferred embodiment but by the following claims which are regarded as setting forth the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A hydraulic shifting device comprising a valve for controlling the flow of a fluid used in the actuation of a two-way control cylinder and having two operating positions, a valve connecting rod to control the position of the valve and the flow of said fluid to the cylinder, a shifting lever actuated by the rod to displace the valve into one of its two positions, a shift lever lock including a crossbar, a straddling post mounted on the valve, a weight equalizer means including a spring, a friction bar with a rubber silencer on said bar, said friction bar including bolts coupled to said shift lever, a spring plate for mounting said bolts thereon, and a nut threadedly engag- 3 ing said bolts for adjusting the spring bias applied on said friction bar.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein a spring means is provided to retain the shifting lever in a posit-ion on one of either sides of a central point of said shifting lever to hold the valve connecting rod in a given operating position.

3. The invention according to claim 2 wherein a pump provides hydraulic fluid to said valve under pressure continuously, said pump receiving fluid from a tank, and means returning the flow of the hydraulic fluid from the valve to said tank and said pump, said return path from the valve to the pump defining a bleeder path.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 JULIUS E. WEST,

Rivera 91347 X De Motte 91-347 Habenicht 60--52 X Mast 6052 Dreyer 91347 X Koplin et a1 6052 X Primary Examiner.

EDGAR W. GEOGHEGAN, Examiner. 

1. HYDRAULIC SHIFTING DEVICE COMPRISING A VALVE FOR CONTROLLIN THE FLOW OF A FLUID USED IN THE ACTUATION OF A TWO-WAY CONTROL CYLINDER AND HAVING TWO OPERATING POSITIONS, A VALVE CONNECTING ROD TO CONTROL THE POSITION OF THE VALVE AND THE FLOW OF SAID FLUID TO THE CYLINDER, A SHIFTING LEVER ACTUATED BY THE ROD TO DISPLACE VALVE INTO ONE OF ITS TWO POSITIONS, A SHFT LEVER LOCK INCLUDING A CROSSBAR, A STRADDLING POST MOUNTED ON THE VALVE, A WEIGHT EQUALIZER MEANS INCLUDING A SPRING, A FRICTION BAR WITH A RUBBER SILENCER ON SAID BAR, SAID FRICTION BAR INCLUDING BOLTS COUPLED TO SAID SHIFT LEVER, A SPRING PLATE FOR MOUNTING SAID BOLTS THEREON, AND A NUT THREADEDLY ENGAGING SAID BOLTS FOR ADJUSTING THE SPRING BIAS APPLIED ON SAID FRICTION BAR. 